Tours
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Gallipoli Association Walking Tour in association with Battle Honours Ltd
2012 Gallipoli Association Tour (16th - 21st September)
2012 marks the 97th Anniversary year of the amphibious landing of British, Indian and Dominion troops on the Gallipoli peninsula. The tragic campaign that followed lasted eight months and resulted in nearly half a million Allied and Turkish casualties. The story behind its eventual failure, of heart breaking missed opportunities and the remarkable heroism of the troops involved is the basis of our tour.
The tour selected for 2012 will be different to previous years by be a walking tour; the best way to visit the battlefield.
Hugh Jenner, Tours Officer and Leader
Stephen Chambers, Battlefield Guide
This specialist walking tour in conjunctions with Battle Honours Ltd is limited to 14 spaces and will be guided by Stephen Chambers. Over an undulating landscape and following “off the beaten track” routes this tour is designed for enthusiasts with a basic level of fitness, expect to walk 8/10 miles a day and be walking for approximately 8 hours. This tour is open to Gallipoli Association members only (a great incentive to join!).
The tour will be based in a modern, fully equipped, comfortable 3* star central Canakkale hotel, all rooms have Wifi, satellite TV with English speaking channels, A/C and en-suite bathroom facilities to a high standard. Further details of the hotel can be found here - www.grandanzachotel.com
Flights will be from London Heathrow via the scheduled British Airways route to Istanbul Ataturk. Flight costs are factored into the price and booked via our preferred ATOL agent Travel Counsellors, further details of them can be found at www.travelcounsellors.co.uk In addition to the peace of mind that booking with an ATOL licensed agent brings, Battle Honours Ltd also holds full and proper public liability insurance, as required by law. It is required for people joining this tour to provide evidence of their personal travel insurance before we depart.
The flight times are as follows;
SUNDAY 16th September 2012
0935 Latest check-in for British Airways flight BA676 at London Heathrow T5
1035 Flight departs London Heathrow airport terminal five
1620 Flight arrives at Istanbul Ataturk airport
FRIDAY 21st September 2012
1635 Latest check-in for British Airways flight BA677 at Istanbul Ataturk airport
1735 Flight departs Istanbul Ataturk airport
1940 Flight arrives at London Heathrow airport terminal five
After clearing visa (£10 sterling payable in cash only on arrival at Istanbul Airport) and passport control, we will be met at the airport exit by our driver Sherifan (Sherry) in his 2012, 16 Seat Mercedes Sprinter Mini-coach. We then take a leisurely drive down the Peninsular with the Bosporus never far away and with suitable comfort breaks on the way arriving at the hotel for approximately 21:30. This journey will take about 5 hours. A separate support vehicle will be on hand to assist with luggage
Walking Itinerary;
Monday 17 September 2012 - Anzac
Walk One - Covering the landings at Anzac cove and up to the high ground of Lone Pine and The Nek. We see where the AIF stormed ashore on what is now “ANZAC day” and scrambled passed the “Sphinx” trying to break the Turkish lines. We walk along the beach before climbing Plugges Plateau and then turning up “Boltons Ridge” where Australian sniper Billy Sing plied his trade. Pausing at Shell Green, where the briefest of cricket matches was played whilst under fire! The ascent ends at the moving Lone Pine Memorial with its breath taking views over the Aegean Sea.
Walk Two - Clinging to the cliffs above the beaches, the afternoon walk charts the frontline held by Anzac troops between April and December 1915. Intimate burial spots at 4th Battalion Parade Ground Cemetery and Johnstons Jolly are followed by preserved trenches and memorials given names after courageous and colourful Australian characters. Passing the scene of Albert Jacka’s VC we finish at the tragic site of the attack by the Australian Light Horse on The Nek.
Tuesday 18 September 2012 – Helles & Gully Ravine
Walk Three We start with a walk at Cape Helles and the southern landing areas; including visits to W Beach (Lancashire Landing) we shall see the cemeteries of Lancashire Landing and V Beach. Crossing the fields around Hunter-Weston hill where a bayonet charge by the 4th Worcester’s forced the Turkish troops back to Krithia we arrive at the magnificent Helles memorial to the missing of this Campaign. We then reach Sedulbahir with its substantial Turkish defences which wrought such devastation on the men assaulting from the famous River Clyde.
Walk Four, after lunch which is taken at this quiet bay we visit the isolated lone burial of Lt Colonel Doughty-Wylie VC and move to Gully Ravine. This adventurous walk going “up the line” through the weather beaten ravine to Pink farm and the Krithia area will allow you to see the now quiet spots that once housed over burdened Field Ambulances and countless billets in the shelter of the Gully and where Engineers sunk wells to help quench the parched thirsty troops. We shall also be exploring the often overlooked Gully Ravine.
Wednesday 19 September 2012 – Suvla Bay & Chunuk Bair
Walk Five- We have the most spectacular of any battlefield walks from the heights of Chunuk Bair to the beaches below, focusing on New Zealand forces and the New Army Troops that battled together on Rhododendron Ridge and along evacuation routes to the beaches. This walk is on steep, mountainous terrain along a winding trail and is not for the faint hearted, but is enormously rewarding.
Walk Six - After a stop at Chocolate and Green Hill, we spend the morning looking in depth at the ill fated Suvla landings in mid August 1915. The last chance to seize the initiative in the campaign was lost but not before some famous actions took place. Our walk passes Hill 10 before we follow in the footsteps of the 5th Norfolk’s and uncover the true story behind the vanishing battalion and end at Azmak Cemetery. Don’t forget your swimming trunks for a dip in the bay at the end!
Thursday 20 September 2012 – Krithia
Walk Seven - Twelve Tree Copse to the Redoubt, following the 42nd
East Lancashire’s on their attempt to capture Krithia. This is the heart of the real battle for Gallipoli, and is across ground that would be far more familiar to most of the troops than simply the beach landings. Hear the story of the “Cigarette VC” and fighting along “Wigan road” and “Oldham Street” before arriving at Redoubt cemetery where the Family of 2/Lt Duckwoth planted an Oak tree in his memory, his body never being found.
The afternoon is then spent with a visit to the French cemetery at Morto Bay and any cemetery or battlefield visits that have been
Friday 21 September 2012 – Canakkale and home
There will be time in the morning to visit the British Consular Cemetery or the Naval Museum before our return journey up to Istanbul in good time for our onward flight.
There is the opportunity for those wishing to visit Troy to return to Canakkale where a Taxi can be hired to take you to visit the ancient battlefields of Troy, just 40 minutes drive from our hotel. This is probably best accommodated on the Wednesday afternoon.
Cost for the tour - £850:00 per person in a twin room (£300:00 of this will be for the flights arranged by Travel Counsellors)
£110:00 Single Supplement is available on request
Tour is inclusive of guides throughout, 5 night’s accommodation on a B&B basis, all fuel, toll and ferry fees, vehicle and driver throughout, transfers and transport whilst in Turkey.
To reserve a place please email enquiries@battle-honours.co.uk as soon as possible.
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